November 05, 2012

Voting as a Social Act

Are you planning to vote during this year’s election? If so,
you will be participating in a form of civic engagement, a
subject of sociological study examining anything from volunteering,
participation in social movements, or any action we take that involves
consideration of the greater good.

Sociologists study what factors motivate people to make
commitments towards creating social change, and often use ethnography to study the
how this process works from the inside, focusing on how people work together
(and sometimes struggle to work together) in the course of commitment to a
particular cause.

The internet has revolutionized civic engagement, enabling
people to wage campaigns on Facebook and Twitter and to mobilize people
locally, nationally, and even internationally. Perhaps the most dramatic
example of this shift is the revolutions collectively known as the Arab Spring, which were
largely shaped by electronic
communication, especially since traditional forms of media were mostly censored.

Even in the internet age, there is something profoundly
powerful about being physically present and part of a group. The crowds who
gather to see political candidates can often easily see the stump speech on
television or online, but will sometimes wait for hours to be there with other
supporters for that unique experience of being in the same place as the
candidate. From the Occupy protests, Tea Party rallies, and gatherings in Egypt’s Tahrir Square,
being part of a crowd can add a deeper layer of meaning to their participation.

For me, going to the polls on Election Day is not just a
political act, but a social act. My polling place is typically a local American Legion office,
a veteran’s assistance center decorated with photos of soldiers from World War
II and other conflicts. Entering the building conjures a sense of patriotism
and pride for the sacrifices of local residents who served overseas. Just
stepping foot in the building one can’t help but feel part of the larger
American experience and feel fortunate to be able to vote. Because of this, I
tend to feel like I’m missing something if I’m out of town and have to vote by
absentee ballot.

I often see neighbors at my polling place too, sometimes
stopping to chat after work and having a rare political discussion. Regardless
of how people vote on issues or candidates, coming together for this important
ritual reaffirms a sense of community and purpose, uniting us in the democratic
process whether or not we agree on how important matters should be decided.
Either way, we are participants in something larger than our individual lives
and concerns.

The polling place is also a rare opportunity to be in the
same space with neighbors we haven’t met from different backgrounds and ages.
While waiting in line, unlikely conversations start between people who might
only live blocks away from one another but might otherwise have little in
common. I notice this especially during presidential election years, when voter
turnouts are higher than usual and the excitement is generally more palpable.
During the 2008 election the lines were long, and I stood behind a newly minted
eighteen-year-old female voter and an elderly man. She was excited to be able
to vote, unlike some of her younger classmates, and he spoke of the first
presidential election he voted in during the 1950s, drawing the rapt attention
of the teen.

Even wearing an “I Voted” sticker is a social act.
Whether a personal statement of pride or a reminder to others not to forget to
vote, the ever-present stickers serve to place us as part of a larger
collective action taking place that day.

Besides voting, what other forms of civic engagement do you
regularly partake in?